(Nanowerk News) Vorbeck Materials, in partnership with Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) and Princeton University, was recognized today by R&D Magazine for developing one of the 100 most significant scientific and technological products or advances of the year.

The R&D 100 Award honors Vorbeck’s breakthrough work with PNNL and Princeton to commercialize graphene technology, which will enable greater use of electric vehicles and faster charging consumer electronics.

In collaboration with Professor Ilhan Aksay at Princeton University, PNNL has demonstrated that small quantities of Vor-x™, Vorbeck’s unique graphene material, can dramatically improve the performance and power of lithium-ion batteries. The pioneering work will enable the development of batteries that last longer and recharge quickly, drastically reducing the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle to just a few hours and allowing smartphones to charge in as little as ten minutes. Lithium-ion batteries are also used to power laptops, power tools and other electronic devices.

Vorbeck is working to bring this new technology to market for use in consumer electronic devices, tools, and electric vehicles. Vorbeck is also partnering with Hardwire LLC of Maryland to integrate the new batteries into hybrid military vehicles.

The R&D100 Awards, sometimes referred to as the “Oscars of Innovation”, have long been a benchmark of excellence in technological innovation. Since 1963, the R&D 100 Awards have identified revolutionary technologies, many of which later became household names including the automated teller machine (1973), the fax machine (1975), the Kodak Photo CD (1991), the Nicoderm anti-smoking patch (1992), and HDTV (1998). A full list of this year’s winners is available at www.rdmag.com.

Vorbeck and its partners will be honored at annual R&D 100 Awards ceremony in Orlando Nov. 1.

About Vorbeck Materials Corp.

Vorbeck Materials Corp. is a technology company established in 2006 to manufacture and develop applications using Vor-x™, Vorbeck’s patented graphene material developed at Princeton University. Vorbeck launched the world’s first commercial graphene product with the introduction of Vor-ink™, a graphene-based conductive ink for electronics applications. Vorbeck Materials is the first and only company to receive EPA approval for the commercial production and sale of graphene-based products. Further information is available at www.vorbeck.com or by emailing [email protected]